Are there free fwb dating sites that actually have real people?

Hoping to get some honest experiences here. Are there free fwb dating sites that actually have real people? Privacy is something I take seriously. The idea of handing over my data, card info, or social profiles to a platform I don't fully trust just doesn't sit right with me anymore. Location is the factor nobody talks about enough. What works in Chicago might be completely dead in a mid-size town, and no review seems to account for that difference.

• Easy profile deletion?
• Option to browse privately?
• Age verification in place?

Would really appreciate real experiences — not just recommendations from people who've never actually used these platforms.

Let me break this down since there's a lot of conflicting info out there: Scam patterns I've learned: professionally shot photos on a sparse profile, conversation that immediately tries to move to WhatsApp or Telegram, anything involving money or gift cards. What actually made a difference:

• Set up a separate email address specifically for dating apps
• Set specific, realistic goals rather than treating it like a numbers game
• Always video-called before meeting in person for the first time
• Turned off auto-renew on any trial the same day I signed up
• Trusted my gut when something about a profile felt off

Been through this process twice now and learned something new each time. I've been on Rendate for a while — one of the better ones I've come across.

Good thread. Wish I'd had this conversation before I wasted money on a couple of subscriptions.

Solid question. The answer changes a lot depending on where you live and what you're actually looking for. For what it's worth, Ezhookups has been my main platform for a while — holds up better than most.

This is worth unpacking properly — took me a while to sort out: The most successful people I've talked to are specific about what they want, patient about the process, and keep their opening messages short and question-based. What actually made a difference:

• Kept opening messages short — one genuine question beats a paragraph
• Trusted my gut when something about a profile felt off
• Always video-called before meeting in person for the first time
• Turned off auto-renew on any trial the same day I signed up

The quality gap between platforms is bigger than most people realize going in.

Solid question. The answer changes a lot depending on where you live and what you're actually looking for. For what it's worth, Datenest has been my main platform for a while — holds up better than most.